(Photo: Daniel Dittus) Composed at the height of Christoph Willibald Gluck’s operatic reform, “Iphigénie en Tauride” distills classical tragedy into a work of striking emotional clarity and structural restraint. Without the conventional Da Capo arias and secco recitatives, Gluck integrates voice and orchestra to convey psychological depth and moral conflict. The opera’s tension between barbarism and humanity is rendered through {…}
The record industry is at the forefront of modern musicology, digging up the original versions of long-established classics. In recent years, for instance, Opera Rara has paved the way with publications like the 1867 version of “Don Carlos,” “Simon Boccanegra,” and, in 2019, “Le Willis.” The latter marks Puccini’s entrance onto the operatic stage and may reasonably be considered one {…}
Madrid’s Ibermusica has announced its 2023-24 season. Here are the vocal performances. Josep Vicent conducts the Orquesta ADDA Sinfónica and Orfeón Donostiarra coro in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Montsalvatge’s “Canto espiritual de Joan Maragall” for chorus and orchestra. Performance Date: Dec. 11, 2023 Brahms’ “German Requiem” will be performed by Balthasar Neumann Chor & Ensemble and Thomas Hengelbrock. The {…}
The Palau de la Música Catalana has announced some of its 2023-24 season, which is labeled Palu 100. Here is a look at the Vocal performances announced thus far. Mozart’s Requiem will be performed by Ying Fang, Beth Taylor, Lawrence Kilsby, and Nahuel di Pierro. The Ensemble Pygmalion will be conducted by Raphäel Pichon. Performance Date: Oct. 19, 2023 Händel’s {…}
(Credit: Simon Pauly) Bass-baritone Seth Carico will take over the title role in Mozart‘s operatic masterwork “Don Giovanni” at De Nationale Opera in Amsterdam, replacing baritone Domen Križaj. Carico joins a cast that includes Adrian Sâmpetrean in the role of Leporello, Adela Zaharia as Donna Anna, Amanda Majeski as Donna Elvira, Long Long in the role of Don Ottavio, Rafał {…}
(Credits: Lauri Eriksson / Victor Santiago) The Savonlinna Opera Festival has announced its 2021 slate, which will include several opera productions and a recital by famed Finnish soprano Karita Mattila. Bizet’s opera “Carmen” will feature Amadi Lagha as Don José, Andrei Kymach and Tapani Plathan alternating in the role of Escamillo, and Tuija Knihtilä in the title role. Performance dates: {…}